FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets from 4th Regiment, Advanced Camp took a deep breath as they prepared their minds and bodies for the confidence chamber. The confidence chamber is also commonly referred to as the Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) gas chamber. The purpose for CBRN is to prepare Cadets in case an adversary uses a toxic substance against them and their Soldiers.  “We learned how to put the gear on properly, the different types of gases and how to identify them,” said Tyler Hudson, from DePaul University. With that knowledge and practice, the Cadets are then taken to the [...]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJlF-4DeDAM[/embedyt] “My favorite part about this training is that you are not limited to how many bullets you get to shoot,” said Stacey Estrada, from Weber State University, “If you are not doing so great and you need extra practice, we have the supply here to keep practicing and to keep getting better.” And practice they did.  For the last two days Cadets from the 3rd Regiment, Advanced Camp shot round, after round, after round improving their shooting skills at the George Blair Shooting Range. All their practice leads to their weapons qualification tomorrow. Fort Knox uses a location of [...]

The Cadets from A Co., 3rd Regiment, Advanced Camp completed the Hand Grenade Qualification Course June 11, 2019. Sgt. 1st Class James Nichols, from 4th Infantry Division, described the course. He said, “This course is the hand grenade qualification course. They are going to have one lane with six stations, they need to get a go, that is (passing) four out of six stations. It’s all graded on a go or no-go basis, depending on alternate throwing positions from knock out a bunker, to knock out a mortar pit, to taking out a vehicle.” The Cadets were optimistic about completing the [...]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFCJY15WUIM[/embedyt] FORT KNOX, KY. – “These are just basic Soldier skills that everyone in the Army just needs to know,” said Cadet Joseph Marcos, from Seton Hall University, “Not everyone is going to be in combat but you may find yourself in that position where you may have to execute some of these tasks.” Cadets started the day by practicing with mock hand grenades then moved on to live hand grenades. After learning how to operate one, 2nd Regtiment Advanced Camp Cadets learned how to use it to their advantage. Once Cadets completed these two trainings, they went down to [...]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_uoAWE-KnM[/embedyt] Fort Knox, Ky. – Cadets were instructed to shoot, move and communicate as they navigated down range today during the Buddy Team Live Fire training exercise. The exercise is designed to teach skills and Army values to Cadets, such as teamwork, self-reliance and communication. Woods II Range Noncommissioned Officer in Charge (NCOIC) Master Sgt. Kirby Odom said the training was added to Advanced Camp this year to prepare Cadets for future careers. “We are ensuring that the Cadets get a little bit more of a taste like their privates would [get]  going through basic training,” Odom said. “When they [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky – The culminating event of CST is the field training exercise (FTX) – which places Cadets in stressful situations that simulate a battlefield environment. But before 1st Regiment Advanced Camp can make their way to the Wolverine Lane, they have to get through their Pre-Combat Inspections (PCI) and Precombat Checks (PCC). “Today we are developing platoon SOPs and then we’re getting ready to conduct our first FTX which would be on the Wolverine Lane.” Dajuan McDonald, a Cadet from University of South Carolina explained. “Standard Operating Procedures [are] how you conduct operations that’s going to be specific to [...]

Leadership. It is a word that the Army prides itself upon. The Army is made up of thousands of Soldiers who live and give their lives for their country. The job is not for everyone. You have to have a certain desire and tenacity to serve and lead for a higher calling. Leaders by definition are “the person/people who lead/s or command/s a group, organization, or country.” Here at Cadet Summer Training (CST), Soldiers take on the task of preparing and making the future leaders in our country’s Army. Capt. Vernita Handsborough, who teaches at Georgia Military College, gave her definition [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – On this cool morning at Fort Knox, Ky., 4thRegiment, Advanced Camp Cadets seized the morning and took the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT). The APFT is a mandatory event. There are three events within the APFT; sit-ups, push-ups and a two mile run. Cadets must do the number of repetitions of push-ups and sit-ups for their age and gender within two minutes. For the two-mile run, their passing time is also based on their age and gender. “I respect the work ethic more than the number,” said Maj. Timothy Patterson, a ROTC instructor at Alabama A&M. “It [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Before any Cadet walks onto a range at Cadet Summer Training (CST), they must first attend PMI or preliminary marksmanship instruction.  For some Cadets from the 4th Regiment, today might have been the first time they have held a weapon, specially an M4 Carbine rifle. Master Sgt. Jose Trevino, an ROTC instructor at the University of Texas at Brownsville, led one squad’s training.  “There’s a lot of things that go with this. The first thing is safety. You always have to make sure they’re safe because most of them have never fired a weapon or a weapon [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Second Regiment, Advanced Camp Cadets spent the last three days on marksmanship training and put that training to the test today during Weapons Qualification on George Blair Range. To successfully qualify a Cadets must hit at least 23 of the 40 targets that pop up in their lane. Targets are as close as 100 meters and as far away as 300 meters. They pop up as a single target or in pairs. The shooter fires 20 rounds from the prone supported position and 10 rounds each from prone unsupported and kneeling position. “Today was the best I [...]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Na9yhkK8pUQ[/embedyt] FORT KNOX, Ky. – Hundreds of Cadets of 1st Regiment, Advanced Camp simulated different combat scenarios early this morning in preparation for their upcoming Field Training Exercise (FTX). The FTX is a vital part of Advanced Camp for these Cadets. They are able to practice the various skills they’ve learned from previous training during the 14 days in the field. Capt. Patrick Harvey, a logistics officer, explained the purpose of field preparation today. “The purpose of the training today is to basically go over the squad battle drills,” he said. “What that means is the squads are breaking down [...]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0DIMJAD98g[/embedyt] Cadets participated in a six-mile ruck march assessment at 4 a.m. on June 9, 2019 to prepare themselves for their 12-mile ruck march at the end of Advanced Camp. The Cadets have to complete the six-mile trek in two hours in order to maintain the required pace. Lt. Col. Michael Marchetti Company Commander of Bravo Company 3rd regiment explained the ruck process.  He said, “A ruck is a backpack that soldiers wear that carries all of their equipment. For this ruck, the required weight is 35 pounds.” He continued, “Ruck marches are important because the Army moves on its [...]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iu0RXx1s8lU[/embedyt] FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets of 1st Regiment, Advanced Camp attempted to sing “Baby Shark” as CS gas (tear gas) burned their eyes, throats and skin during their chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) training. This 4-hour event is part of Cadet Summer Training, where all Cadets must learn the procedures involved in CBRN safety. While the most anticipated part of this training is going through the confidence chamber, Cadets also must learn how to properly adjust protective clothing, don a gas mask, recognize different CBRN dangers and more. After going through the entire process, several Cadets shared their [...]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8MZcQbE3lQ[/embedyt] FORT KNOX, Ky. – The Delta Co., 3rdRegiment Cadets went through the Confidence Course yesterday, June 8, with the motivation of their squad encouraging them the whole way. The Course The Confidence Course is made up of nine different obstacles meant to challenge the Cadets’ strength, both physical and mental. Each obstacle presents a new problem to overcome, and some are harder than others. Whether it’s climbing a rope to scoot across wooden planks or swinging yourself up onto a log, all encompass their own difficulties. The nine obstacles are The Tough One (known as being the most difficult), [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Throughout Cadet Summer Training, there are many events that Cadets are fearful of or struggle to complete.  It may be getting lost during land navigation, rappelling off a 64-foot tower, or shooting a rifle, but for many, this fear comes out at the live hand grenade range. That fear surfaced for 2nd Advanced Camp Regiment Cadets this morning at Christensen Range.  Each Cadet has their own way of facing their fears.  Cadets David Hall and Kenneth Walker handle their fears by focusing on their families and the sacrifices made to get them where they are today. The [...]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOXsyDM9aOs[/embedyt] FORT KNOX, Ky. – Through the rain and muddy terrain, Cadets from Advanced Camp, 1st Regiment swam their way through the buddy team live fire range this morning during Cadet Summer Training. Buddy team live fire training is a two-day event; the first day is a dry run through with their battle buddy. The second day is when they shoot real rounds. The overall goal of this training is for the Cadets to be able to work with their battle buddy and communicate with them while in a stressful environment. “The focus is to have full control of your movements [...]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWXygPo6Sfs[/embedyt] FORT KNOX, Ky. — “Today is the culminating event for [2nd Regiment Cadets] basic rifle marksmanship (BRM),” said 1st Lt. Mike Marta, from Fort Carson. “It is part of a four-day process starting with primary marksmanship instruction (PMI), going into grouping zero, location of misses and hits so they can see where on the targets they are hitting and then culminating here with the qualification range,” said Marta. In the past, this was not a must pass event. This was available so Cadets could familiarize themselves with the weapons. In order for Cadets to pass their qualification test, they [...]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMWMvid0Z10[/embedyt] FORT KNOX, Ky. — Weather may have kept 3rd Regiment Delta Company out of the confidence chamber, but it did not keep them from learning. While the Confidence Chamber may be the exciting part of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) defense training, 3rd Regiment Delta Company learned there was a lot more that went into CBRN and what it means for the Army. Staff Sgt. Scott Dimmick of the 22nd CBRNE (Explosive) unit out of Fort Bliss, Texas, oversaw the training today. “I think it’s important for the Cadets to learn, so if they choose to go CBRN [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky – There was a break in the rain at Fort Knox when Advanced Camp 3rd Regiment began its Land Navigation testing. Although it was cloudy, muddy and 7 a.m., Cadets wore a smile on their face and were excited to start the day. Just like the 1st and 2nd Regiment, Cadets received a map, points to plot, and then tasked with finding these given points within a four-hour period. Cadets must locate three points to pass the event, but to stay in the running for RECONDO, they must find all four of their points. Within the four hours, [...]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnJI_kefGkc[/embedyt] FORT KNOX, Ky. — Before Cadets go out for Land Navigation (Land Nav) they have to make sure they know how to use the equipment so they don’t lose themselves out in the almost 1,800-kilometer training field. Cadets from 3rd Regiment Charlie and Delta Company were given a test today to make sure they understood how to read a map and use the equipment they will be given for the practical testing later on in Advanced Camp. Maj. Earl Roloff, an Assistant Professor of Military Science at the University of Arkansas, was the Cadre overseeing the test. He expanded [...]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBGMrcIJVf8[/embedyt] FORT KNOX, Ky. – If you’re a Cadet doing First Aid Training during Advanced Camp, Randy is a great partner to practice on. He’s not likely to complain or move around as you treat him. Rescue Randy is the nickname given to the mannequins used during First Aid Training. Cadets of 3rd Regiment, Advanced Camp separated into small groups and surrounded a “Randy.” Then, trainers explained how to perform several different medical procedures on the life-size mannequin. First, Randy had to be treated for an arterial bleed right above the knee. Randy was in a lot of pain and [...]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5QkXVfclLs[/embedyt] FORT KNOX, Ky. – The Delta Co., 2nd Regiment, Advanced Camp Cadets lead their way through the Field Leader Reaction Course yesterday, June 6. The Field Leader Reaction Course (FLRC) puts Cadets, separated into squads, through obstacles that are modeled after situations that Soldiers have come across in historical American wars. To successfully complete an obstacle, the Cadets must get specific equipment through, as well as each squad member. With each new obstacle, a new Squad Leader is appointed. This offers a change in team dynamic with each different challenge. Some leaders take charge, others try to open more [...]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Kj5zjFkPfw[/embedyt] “All basic training soldiers have to throw two live hand grenades. So, as future officers and leaders of America, why would we not be held to the same standard?” asked Cadet Sean McCarthy, from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke from the 1st Regiment Advanced Camp. The answer to that question is that they [cadets] are “held to the same standard.” At least as of this year’s Cadet Summer Training, where the Cadets are required to throw two live grenades. In order for that to happen, the Cadets first had to demonstrate their ability with practice grenades. The [...]

Fort Knox, Ky.—Teamwork and trust are not values unique to the Army but they certainly are highly emphasized. 1st Regiment Cadets spent the past two days going through the Buddy Team Live Fire training exercise. Yesterday, the Cadets went down the range practicing with blanks while today, the Cadets moved down range using live ammunition. Through the exercise Cadets are paired with a partner to work with to effectively and safely move down range while engaging targets. These pairs of battle buddies now had to put their trust of one another to the test. For Cadet James Harding, from Plainfield, Massachusetts, [...]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQw09qPaBn0[/embedyt] Cadets from 2nd Regiment Carlie and Delta have two hours to locate two points, and they must find at least one in order to pass. Cadets use a protractor and a map of the area to plot their points. After that they use their maps and compasses to navigate to their points. Capt. Jason Dubyoski, from The Citadel said, “[The Night Land Navigation] tests [Cadets’] ability to navigate to points dismounted in the dark in hours of limited visibility.” Dubyoski mentioned that, “some of them struggle to shoot a good azimuth using the compass.” It is also possible that [...]